Wheel balancing weight



Feb. 4, 1936. v. 1.. DU SANG 2,029,561

\ WHEEL smucmg WEIGHTY Filed April 4, 1934 Attorneys.

Patented Feb. 4, .1936

U I ED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to the art of balancing weights to be applied to rotating members particularly in automobile wheels. With the ad- 'vent of high speed performance of automobiles and tires of considerable relative weight with large diameters, difliculty is frequently encountered in keeping the automobile traveling in a straight line. When a tire or a wheel on which the tire is mounted, or both. may be out of balance, the unbalanced condition of that wheel will cause the tire to tend to crawl causing one wheel to advance faster than the other so as to produce a turning effect particularly with the front wheels although the same effect may be observed with the rear wheels. It

has been observed that in some cases themes or the wheels may be so much out of balance that at speeds or 50 miles per hour or above, the unbalanced effect will be suiiicient to cause the wheel to actually leave the ground during part of its revolution. v

I am aware of the iact that weights have been employed to counteract the unbalanced efiect, but

considerable difflculty has been had with such known types of weights for thispurpose in that the weights could not be applied easily to the wheel and when applied would lose oil. v

It is a primary purpose of my invention to provide a quickly attachable weight .which will be safe and also very easily applied. It is a further primary object of my invention to provide such a weight attaching means as will permit the weight to grip the rim 01' a wheel with the tire thereon cooperating to retain the weight in place. Other advantages and objects of the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description, with reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation 01' a tire rim to which my invention is pplied;

Fig. 2, a vertical section on the line 1-2 in m. 1' t Fig. 3, aviewin perspective of a modified iorm of the invention;

' Fig, asection on the line l-l in Fig. 3;.

., F18. 5, a view in perspective of a still further modified iorm oi the invention; and

Fig.. 6, a side elevation of a wheel indicating the relative locations of weights.

Like characters of referenceindicate like parts throughout the several views in the Referring first to the form of the invention asshowninrigs. 1and2.Iprovideaspringsteel metallic. clip ll substantially S-shspe in cross section and having the upper loop thereof formed to flt snugb about ihe-outer'peripheral edge I] oi a tire rim i2. This upper loop is so formed.

u that it will yieldingly grip over the edge II and will have to be driven in place. The lower outer end of the clip Hi is turned outwardly and is prefera-bly cut to have barbs it along itsouter edge. A mass of lead I4 is carried by the lower leg of the clip ill, being molded in place thereon so that the barbs I: will prevent the lead from slipping thereofl. The lead I is molded so as to fit snugly around the'lower portion of the clip ID as best indicated in Fig. 2 and the outer face of the lead ll preferably terminates in a vertical plane not. beyond the outer portion of the clip i0. It is thus tobe seenthat the mass of lead I4 is carried snugly back under the outturned edge Ii of the tire rim so that under centrifugal force, the lead [4 tends to bear upwardly against the clip "I which in turn bears against the under side of the outtumed edge I I. With the mass of the lead carried back under the edge ii, there is no tendency for the lead to loosen up and fly oi oi the clip ill.

It is to be understood that this mass of lead It may vary in weight depending upon the weight required to correct the unbalanced condition of the wheel. In practice I supply these weights with the mass of lead it varying through a range of several ounces. It is to be noted that the upper inturned lip of the clip Ill passes well down over the top side of the edge Ii the rim so that the tire carried on the rim will yieldingly grip at least the inner edge of the clip III- to press it against the rim. These clips Ill may be entered over the edge Ii at any point around the rim i2 and then driven into place to become a fixed part of the wheel. It is understood that the wheel is allowed to revolve on some balancing device in the usual way to locate the heavier side thereof and that the weights are then applied on the opposite side to counteract that unbalanced weight. In some cases a tire rim is encountered wherein there is but a very slight projection 01 the peripheral edge, and in this case I provide a weight of the type indicated in Fig. 5 which is flattened in nature to lie back underthat slight extending'edge. Referring to Fig. 5, the rim i5 has the overhanging edge it. A weight I1 is formed to have pins II and I! extending from its respective ends. The weight I1 is initially held'in place by means of a clip 2| which grips the under side of the weight I1 and urges it up weight-thus temporarily secured in place, the $5 as above indicated so as to use two or more.

wheel is placed on' some sensitive balancer and the weight I! then adjusted circumierentially around the rim until the wheel is brought into balance. e

When this position of the weight I! is determined, a pair of clips 22 andv 22 are placed-over the edge iii to have a lower looped portion 24 in each case extending back under'the edge ii to be in compressive contact with the vertical iace o! the rim i5 thereunder. These clips 22 and 22 are moved circurnferentially along the rim to have their looped portions brought up and tele-' scoped over the pins l8 and iii, the clip 22 being herein shown as just engaging the pin l9. After the clips 22 and 23 are thus positioned, the temporaryclip 20 is removed. Thewelght oi! the clip 20 is made to be equal to the combined weights of the clips 22 and 23 so that the wheel is kept in balance after the clips 22 and 23 are attached to carry the weight il in service and after the temporary locating clip 20 has been removed. i

It is preferable to use two or more weights on a wheel to overcome an unbalanced condition and such weights should be located in some such.

manner as indicated in Fig. 6 where the unbalanced portion of the wheel 25 is on the under side such as at A, that is, A indicates the heavier side of the wheel. Since that unbalanced weight may be distributed over, an area rather than being located at a point, it is better, to divide the weights In Fig. 6 two such weights are indicated as being employed and they are located, one each a third of the way around from the heavy side A, that is the two weights 26 and 21 are spaced around one from the other 120", and each is also spaced around fromthe heavy side 120. The combined eflfect of the weights 26 and 21 is made by selecting the proper weight .in each case to exactly. balance the wheel.

Where it is not desired to employ weights fixed v to the clips as in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a type of structure as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 may be employed wherein the clip 28 has an upper portion 29 adapted to be driven over the edge of the tire rim as in the case of the clip I. The lower leg of the clip 28, however, is carried I around and outwardly to a somewhat greater distance and is shaped to carry a mass of metal 30 betweenit and the upper portion of the-clip. An additional mass of metal 3| isbrought up against the under side of the lower leg and a screw 32 is passed through this lower piece of CERTIFICATE 1 equiring correction as follows:

metal and'the clip leg and screwthreadedly engaged in the metal '20. Thus by varying'the dimensions of the lower metal 2|. that is by havknown to me, it is obvious that structural changes may be made, particularly in the manner of securing the mass of metal 'to the clip, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, and I, therefore, do not desire to be limited to those precise forms, nor any morethan may be required. by the following claims.

I claim:

1. For balancing a wheel having a rim with an edge extending upwardly and outwardly, the combination of a weight shaped to be confined substantially under the projection of said edge, and a clip carrying the weight and compressibly engaging over the edge to extend around and downwardly on the inner side thereof, said clip being made outof spring steel, and said weight being cast over a barbed foot of the clip.

2. For balancing a wheel having a rim with an edge extending upwardly and outwardly, the combination of a weight shaped to fit under said edge and against said rim, and a clip carrying the weight and elastically engaging over said edge to extend downwardly on the inner side thereof. a footout-turned from the lower end of the clip having an opening cut therethrough, and

.said weight being formed around said foot and through. said opening as a means of securing the weight to said clip.

3. For balancing a wheeihaving a rim with an edge extending upwardly and outwardly, the combination of a weight shaped to fit under said edge and against said rim, and a clip carrying the weightand elastically engaging over said edge to'extend downwardly on the inner side thereof,

a foot out-turned from the lower end of the clip having an opening cut therethrough, and said weight being formed around said, foot and through saidcpening as a means'of securing the weight to said clip, said clip being substantially s-shaped to carry around from said embedded foot over the weight and thence over said edge.

VIRGIN L. DU SANG.

or CORRECTION.

February 4, 1936.

VIRGIL L. DU SANG.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent- Page 2, end o'f'specification, Signature of patentee, for "Virgin L. Du Sang" read Virgil L. Du Sang; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conforrh to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

' (Seal) Signed and sealed this 7th' day April A. D. 1936.

Leslie Frazer Acting Commissioner of Patents.

' as above indicated so as to use two or more.

wheel is placed on' some sensitive balancer and the weight I! then adjusted circumierentially around the rim until the wheel is brought into balance. e

When this position of the weight I! is determined, a pair of clips 22 andv 22 are placed-over the edge iii to have a lower looped portion 24 in each case extending back under'the edge ii to be in compressive contact with the vertical iace o! the rim i5 thereunder. These clips 22 and 22 are moved circurnferentially along the rim to have their looped portions brought up and tele-' scoped over the pins l8 and iii, the clip 22 being herein shown as just engaging the pin l9. After the clips 22 and 23 are thus positioned, the temporaryclip 20 is removed. Theweight oi! the clip 20 is made to be equal to the combined weights of the clips 22 and 23 so that the wheel is kept in balance after the clips 22 and 23 are attached to carry the weight il in service and after the temporary locating clip 20 has been removed. 1

It is preferable to use two or more weights on a wheel to overcome an unbalanced condition and such weights should be located in some such.

manner as indicated in Fig. 6 where the unbalanced portion of the wheel 25 is on the under side such as at A, that is, A indicates the heavier side of the wheel. Since that unbalanced weight may be distributed over, an area rather than being located at a point, it is better, to divide the weights In Fig. 6 two such weights are indicated as being employed and they are located, one each a third of the way around from the heavy side A, that is the two weights 26 and 21 are spaced around one from the other 120", and each is also spaced around fromthe heavy side 120. The combined eflfect of the weights 26 and 21 is made by selecting the proper weight .in each case to exactly. balance the wheel.

Where it is not desired to employ weights fixed v to the clips as in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a type of structure as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 may be employed wherein the clip 28 has an upper portion 29 adapted to be driven over the edge of the tire rim as in the case of the clip I. The lower leg of the clip 28, however, is carried I around and outwardly to a somewhat greater distance and is shaped to carry a mass of metal 30 betweenit and the upper portion of the-clip. An additional mass of metal 3| isbrought up against the under side of the lower leg and a screw 32 is passed through this lower piece of metal and'the clip leg and screwthreadedly engaged in the metal '20. Thus by varying'the dimensions of the lower metal 2|. that is by havknown to me, it is obvious that structural changes may be made, particularly in the manner of securing the mass of metal 'to the clip, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, and I, therefore, do not desire to be limited to those precise forms, nor any morethan may be required. by the following claims.

I claim:

1. For balancing a wheel having a rim with an edge extending upwardly and outwardly, the combination of a weight shaped to be confined substantially under the projection of said edge, and a clip carrying the weight and compressibly engaging over the edge to extend around and downwardly on the inner side thereof, said clip being made outof spring steel, and said weight being cast over a barbed foot of the clip.

2. For balancing a wheel having a rim with an edge extending upwardly and outwardly, the combination of a weight shaped to fit under said edge and against said rim, and a clip carrying the weight and elastically engaging over said edge to extend downwardly on the inner side thereof. a footout-turned from the lower end of the clip having an opening cut therethrough, and

.said weight being formed around said foot and through. said opening as a means of securing the weight to said clip.

3. For balancing a wheeihaving a rim with an edge extending upwardly and outwardly, the combination of a weight shaped to fit under said edge and against said rim, and a clip carrying the weightand elastically engaging over said edge to'extend downwardly on the inner side thereof,

a foot out-turned from the lower end of the clip having an opening cut therethrough, and said weight being formed around said, foot and through saidcpening as a means'of securing the weight to said clip, said clip being substantially s-shaped to carry around from said embedded foot over the weight and thence over said edge.

VIRGIN L. DU SANG.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No, 2,029,561.

requiring correction as follows:

February 4, 1936.

VIRGIL L. DU SANG.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the abovejnumbered patent- Page 2, end of'specification, Signature of patentee, for "Virgin L. Du Sang" read Virgil L. Du Sang; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

' (Sea1) Signed and sealed this 7th day April, A. D. 1936.

Leslie Frazer Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

